Bridge for stringed musical instruments.



No; 669,902. Patented Mar. l2, IQUL J. RUNKLES,

BRIDGE FOR STRIN GED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

(Application filed Nov. 19, 1900 Jimasiizzzzfk; 1 3 b, 5y

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JAMES RUNKLES, OF CANTON, ILLINOIS.

BRIDGE FOR STRINGED MUSlCAl. iNSTRU-MENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent- No. 669.902. dated March 12, 1 901.

Application filed November 19, 1900. Serial No. 87,040. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES RUNKLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Fulton and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Bridge for Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stringed musical instruments, and has for its object to provide an improved bridge therefor which is especially designed for varying the tone of the instrument to which the bridge may be applied. It is furthermore designed to provide improved means for adjusting the strings toward and away from the instrument and also to vary the distance between the legs of the bridge for the purpose of changing the tone of the instrument.

With this and other objects in view the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accom panying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a violin having the improved bridge applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of the bridge. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View thereof. Fig. 4 isa transverse sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that the present bridge is formed in two parts, of which the body part 1 is in the form of a comparatively thin block of wood or other suitable material, and the adjustable part 2 is in the form of a thin flat plate adjustably received within a longitudinal bifurcation 3, formed in the top or outer edge of the body part. The inner edge of the adjustable part is straight and is also provided with the opposite transverse slots or bifurcations 4., as best indicated in Fig. 3, for the reception of the respective adjusting-bolts 5, which pass transversely through the body partof the bridge, so as to be accessible from the outside thereof. The outer longitudinal edge of the adjustable part is rounded or OODVGXGtl, as is usual in all bridges for stringed musical instruments, and also has the notches (3 for the reception of the strings of an instrument. rangement of parts the striugsupportiug part may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly in opposite directions upon the body part to increase and decrease the width of the entire bridge.

The bottom or inner tlat edge of the body part of the bridge is supported by means of the opposite feet 7, which are carried at the opposite ends of an adjusting-rod 8, mounted upon the bottom edge of the body. This rod is pivotally or rotatably connected to the bridge by means of the pair of staples or eyes 9, which loosely embrace the intermediate portion of the rod and are driven into the edge of the bridge. The opposite ends of the rod project slightly at the respective ends of the bridge and are reversely screw-threaded, as indicated in Fig. 3, for the reception of the nuts 10, fixedly projecting from the intermediate portions of the feet and slidably received within the respective grooves 11, formed in the bottom edge of the body of the bridge and opening outwardlythrough the adjacent ends thereof. An adjusting finger-piece 12, in the form of a disk having a milled peripheral edge, is fixedly secured to an intermediate portion of the rod and has one side received within a transverse notch or bifurcation 13, formed in the bottom edge of the body part of the bridge.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the feet of the bridge may be spread apart and also drawn together by manipulatin g the disk-shaped finger-piece on the adjusting-rod, and the inward movement of the feet is limited by either the bearings of the rod or the inner ends of the grooves 11.

In the application of the bridge, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the same is interposed between the strings and the body 14 of an instrument, with the feet resting upon the top of the instrument and the upper notched edge receiving the strings transversely across the same in the manner of any violin-bridge. By

By this are adjusting the outer part of the bridge or the string-surmorting part thereof the strings may be held at different distances from the fingerboard of the instrument, according to the desire of the player; also, the feet may be spread apart and likewise drawn inwardly, so as to vary the points of contact with the body of the instrument, and thereby change the tone thereof to suit the player, It will be understood that the lower edge of the adjusting finger-piece is out of contact With the body of the instrument and also projects at opposite sides of the bridge, so that the feet may be adjusted Without removing the bridge from beneath the strings and Without removing the tension therefrom.

What is claimed is 1. An adjustable bridge for stringed musical instruments, comprising body part havinga longitudinal bifurcation in its outer edge, an adjustable string-supgorting part received within the bifurcation and having its inner edge provided with one or more transverse notches or bifurcations, and a transverse adjusting device ext ndin g through the bifurcations of the two parts of the bridge.

2. The combination with a stringed musical instrument, of a bridge having points f contact therewith, which are adj ustable upon the instrument independently of any bodily justment of the bridge itself.

3. A bridge for stringed musical instruments, having adjustable supporting-feet.

i. A bridge for stringed musical instruments, having supporting-feet, which are adj usta-ble in opposite directions.

5. A bridge for stringed musical instruments, having supporting-feet which are adjustable longitudinally of the bridge and in opposite directions.

6. A bridge for stringed musical instruments, having adjustable feet, and means for simultaneously adjusting the feet.

7. A bridge for stringed musical instruments, having oppositely-adj ustable feet, and an intermediate adjustable connection therefor, having an adjusting fingeriece.

8. A bridge for stringed musical instruments, having oppositely-adjustable feet, a rotatable rod mounted upon the bridge and having oppositelyscrew-threaded ends carrying the feet, and means for adjustably rotating the rod.

9. A bridge for stringed musical instruments, having opposite terminal grooves formed in the bottom edge thereof, opposite adjustable supporting-feet, having projected nuts slidably received Within the respective grooves, an adjusting rotatable rod mounted upon the bottom edge of the bridge, and having reversely-scre\v-threaded ends engaging the respective nuts, and an adjusting-disk fixed to the intermediate part of the rod and received Within a notch in the bridge.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES RUNKLES.

Witnesses:

A. (J. SHEPLEY, THOMAS MILLs. 

